What about just having the setting set to storage instead of dac? As fun as having a usb cable to the computer and another to the wall sounds it would be nice to be able to charge at work while I want to listen to music and be able to use the dac to listen to the radio or stream a show on lunch. Ideally it would work like the AK series that throw up a menu asking if you want to charge, dac or storage.

No. It will function normally when plugged into the wall or with a charge only cable. Otherwise, if the cable is connected to a pc, no matter whether you have storage or dac selected, there is no way to access the player controls until you disconnect. At least none that I have found.

It there were battery issues, I suspect it could perhaps be heard when comparing a freshly charged DX90 to one with <50% charge. On my DX100, I am convinced that once the battery charge drops, I can hear a slight loss in dynamics and punch....I have no idea if the DX90 would experience a similar issue.

If anyone is wondering if a different battery would sound better than the stock fully charged, I'm skeptical unless another battery was found that exhibited lower impedance characteristics (which used to be the case when comparing alkaline batteries to good low discharge NiMH batteries on older portable amps).

As far as I know, all available batteries that fit the DX90 are the same chemistry (lithium ion...which makes finding a "golden" battery with significantly different discharge characteristics less likely).

It there were battery issues, I suspect it could perhaps be heard when comparing a freshly charged DX90 to one with <50% charge. On my DX100, I am convinced that once the battery charge drops, I can hear a slight loss in dynamics and punch....I have no idea if the DX90 would experience a similar issue.

If anyone is wondering if a different battery would sound better than the stock fully charged, I'm skeptical unless another battery was found that exhibited lower impedance characteristics (which used to be the case when comparing alkaline batteries to good low discharge NiMH batteries on older portable amps).

As far as I know, all available batteries that fit the DX90 are the same chemistry (lithium ion...which makes finding a "golden" battery with significantly different discharge characteristics less likely).

Thanks, I have been speculating (with my admittedly inadequate knowledge of lithium battery pack design) if some higher capacity packs maybe have two cells wired in parallel, which would thus affect the impedance characteristics.

Please, don't anyone think I'm discussing this from the perspective that I think there is any 'problem' with the standard cell's performance with the DX90. I don't mean it at all in a 'problematic' sense, just in a 'wonder if it would be better' sense.

But, I originally asked the question in this thread, in the hope that someone may actually have some listening impressions from trying different battery packs. If we're moving forwards with the discussion on a theoretical level, then I'll be the first to suggest that it'd be better to take it over to the DX90 general discussion thread

Well, I had the DX90 for some time now, have been doing a lot of burn inn.

I think it is fabulous, I have put up my Meier Corda CLASSIC for sale, I do believe that the synergy between to DX90 and my Spiral Ears REF5 is better than between the Meier and the REF5.

I often listen to a bands called Cloud Cult, Death Cab for Cutie and The New Pornographers, I find the music interesting because of all the layers, it is an absolute joy with the DX90, it allows you to hear it all.

On the traditional show off tracks (Allan Taylor, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd ect.) it also shines, but for me it really shows what it is worth on the complicated music, in short it allows me to hear what the artist intended us to hear—and isn’t it what it is all about?

For everyone complaining about not being able to charge and play, you can try the tape mod mentioned above, or buy a charge-only USB cable. I have several that came with small cell phone external "emergency" batteries. Duracell ones, for example, are pretty easy to find. Possibly some 99¢ stores may also have this type of cable by itself.